Shark beetle
| Shark beetle | ||||||||||||
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Grove beetle ( Carabus nemoralis ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Carabus nemoralis | ||||||||||||
| Müller , 1764 |
The grove beetle ( Carabus nemoralis ) is a beetle from the family of ground beetles (Carabidae) within the genus of the real ground beetles ( Carabus ).
features
The beetles grow to be 18 to 22 millimeters long. They have a shiny dark bronze-brown or black-green body, the edges of the wings and the pronotum are purple to blue in color. The upper wings are finely grooved lengthways, some ribs are interrupted by several flat pits lined up. The head is roughly wrinkled.
Occurrence
The animals are found all over Europe , north to about the Arctic Circle . They were introduced into North America . They are widespread in Northern and Central Europe and are among the most common Carabus species. They live mainly in forests, but also occur in fields, meadows, in hedges and also in gardens. They can be found from the lowlands to heights of around 2000 meters in spring and autumn. In summer they take a diapause .
Way of life
Shark beetles are diurnal and nocturnal. They hunt insects, but especially caterpillars , which is why they are very useful for agriculture. Occasionally they also eat fruit. The beetles are solitary and can often be found in old wood and under stones, where they can be found during their resting period in summer. The larvae pupate in the soil.
literature
- Ekkehard Wachmann , Ralph Platen, Dieter Barndt: Ground beetles - observation, way of life . Naturbuch-Verlag, Augsburg 1995, ISBN 3-89440-125-7 .
- Jiři Zahradnik, Irmgard Jung, Dieter Jung et al .: Beetles of Central and Northwestern Europe . Parey, Berlin 1985, ISBN 3-490-27118-1 .
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| Side view | bottom |
